Moving from Good Causes to Root Causes - A Toolkit on Poverty for Community Foundations

Choosing a Strategy

This section helps you select a poverty focus or strategy that fits your community foundation and your community.

Why?

There are many ways to tackle poverty and many organizations already working in the field in your community. What can the community foundation's special contribution be, given its current skills, resources, and mission?

Top 3 Lessons Learned about Choosing a Strategy

  1. Take time and think long term. Planning and strategy are key to success.
  2. Clarify your role (s). There are multiple roles for foundations such as catalyst, funder, and convener. It is important to recognize what each means, when they are appropriate, and how best to accomplish them.
  3. Being resilient is crucial. When something is not working, be willing to stop and try something different.

More Lessons Learned about Choosing a Strategy